Dutchess preps for a mass fatality

Disaster experts come together at mock catastrophes to geta better handle on emergencies

5:08 AM,
Apr. 15, 2013

Written by

Chris Valdez
Poughkeepsie Journal

Dutchess County officials say they are better prepared to respond to a mass fatality catastrophe than they were a year ago.

The county was the site of a weeklong exercise in 2012 that developed a response to a mock accident involving a tractor-trailer carrying jet fuel and an Amtrak train.

"As someone who has spent almost 30 years in this industry, although never 100 percent comfortable, I'm 1,000 times more comfortable dealing with a mass fatality than a year ago," said Dana Smith, coordinator of the county's Department of Emergency Response. ...